Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/10/15
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Ken, This is something I do know about. In Japan, numerous companies were rebuilding after WW2. Mamiya was fortunate enough to receive a large number of camera orders from the United States Central P.X. Procurement Office which aided them in rebuilding a new factory in Tokyo. Asahi Optical Company began again in 1948 the same year Chinon was established. Minolta started operation again in an old school building in 1946 and produced the Minolta Semi IIIA which sported a Rokkor lens, the first time anti-reflective coatings were used on a Japanese lens. In 1947, Seiki Kogaku Kogyo was renamed the Canon Camera Company and would produce lenses now bearing the Canon name. General Headquarters of the Allied Occupation Forces in Japan regulated the camera business in 1949 and prohibited the sale of cameras to the general public in Japan. However, if a camera manufacturing company had exports large enough to become ranked as "top camera exporter" it could also sell cameras in Japan. The name Nikon was first used on the Nikon I made by Nippon Kogaku whose development began in 1946 and marketed in 1948. This post-war camera featured a focal plane shutter with rangefinder focusing but had a picture format of 24mm x 32mm. The camera was not allowed to be exported to the US because its unique film format, which was not compatible with Kodachrome slide mounts. Although the next rangefinder model, the Nikon M used a format of 24mm x 34mm, it was not until 1951 when the first Nikon S camera debuted using the standard format of 24mm x 36mm. At the time this camera also employed the 50mm f1.4 Nikkor as standard which at the time was the world's fastest standard lens. Peter K - -----Original Message----- From: Ken Iisaka [mailto:kiisaka@attglobal.net] Sent: Thursday, October 14, 1999 9:06 PM To: leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us Subject: Re: [Leica] Konica KM mount - ----- Original Message ----- From: Bernard <5521.g23@g23.relcom.ru> > Paul Chefurka wrote: > > > > > > > It sounds like that mount is some really dirty dealing. > > > > Why would you say that, Bernard? It sounds like the Konica guys are > > simply being sensitive to Leica's feelings, even though the patent has > > expired. I don't see anything "dirty" here, just the usual concerns > > of lawyers and marketeers. > > Business and being sensitive to a competitor's feelings? No comment. To the credit of Konica, and other Japanese camera manufacturers, I have been made aware from many of my friends, who work at N, C, K, and other firms, that they do not see Leica as a competitor. If there is anybody who revere Leica more than LUGnuts here, it would be employees of these Japanese camera manufacturers. They are continually inspired, and motivated by Leica products and design. The last thing they would like to see is to see Leica disappear from the marketplace. They are least threatened by such small-volume manufacturer such as Leica. Right after the war ended in 1945, the camera industry in Japan was in ruins. The few subsequent years were spent on producing products that would sell so that they can build the capital to do their own R/D. The first 8 years was indeed spent on producing cameras for the U.S. forces which was occupying Japan at the time. Japanese camera manufacturers had access to patents which were seized by the Allied forces, which helped jumpstart the camera industry. By early 1950's, Japanese companies were manufacturing respectable products: Nikon S, and a slew of Leica copies. Douglas David Duncan's reportage of the Korean War using Nikon S graced the pages of Life magazine, and the superior quality of Nikon lenses made an article on New York Times. Up to this moment, Japanese camera designers were indeed trying to catch up with Leica, and even surpass it. However, when M3 was introduced, Japanese camera manufacturers realised that they simply cannot compete head-to-head with Leica. Minolta even produced a prototype of interchangeable rangefinder camera, "Minolta Sky" a few years later, but the Minolta distributor in the U.S. pursuaded Minolta NOT to produce it. Well, Nikon and Minolta went the SLR way, and the rest is history. Canon which continued to produce LTM bodies did not introduce quality SLRs until the 70s, and took great effort to catch up. I have several autobiographical books written by camera designers who worked in the industry right after the war. If their reverence for Leica has filtered down to their successors, the last thing they would like to see is disappearence of Leica. I know my friends who work at these camera manufacturers concur.